Top wow spots of Hawai'i Volcanoes

From spewing lava to palm-strewn coastline, behold the park's most unforgettable sights

Molten lava pours into the Pacific near Kalapana, just east of Hawai‘i Volcanoes N.P. Near constant eruptions—its eastern flanks have been erupting since 1983, Kilauea Caldera since 2003—make the park’s Kilauea Volcano one of the most active in the world.

Clouds of steam rising from a valley of blackened lava—that’s a classic view of Kilauea, heart of Hawai‘i Volcanoes N.P. The current eruption centers on a portion of the caldera called Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

This 18-mile road leads through the heart of Hawai‘i Volcanoes N.P., dropping 3,700 feet as it winds down the mountains to the Pacific. It comes to a sudden stop where the pavement was buried in lava in 2003; if you’re lucky, you may get to see active lava flows yourself.

Volcanic gases spewing from deep within the earth give Sulphur Banks its name—and its distinctive rotten-egg smell. This easy boardwalk trail leads into the northern end of Kilauea Caldera, a landscape of harsh and blasted volcanic beauty.

Eerily beautiful, this pathway through hardened lava was formed during an eruption several hundred years ago—and you can see it on an easy 0.5-mile trail.

Black lava coves, palm trees, and pounding surf mark this ruggedly beautiful shoreline just east of Hawai‘i Volcanoes N.P. Drive to the Kalapana Lava Viewing Area at the end of State 130, and you may see Kilauea’s current eruption pushing molten lava into the sea. Viewing sites change, so check before you go (nps.gov/havo/planyourvisitor 808/985-6000).

This dramatic lava-rock arch stands on the coast near the end of Chain of Craters Road.

Perched on the edge of Kilauea, Volcano Village is one of the most appealing small towns in Hawaii—an oasis for any traveler who loves art, crafts, good food, and beautiful gardens.